[page] 2

NATURALIST'S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD, by Charles Darwin. London: John Murray.

Some time ago we had the pleasure of commending to the attention of our readers an excellent cheap edition of Darwin's famous journal of his voyage in the Beagle. We have now before us, an admirably illustrated edition of the same work, which is, in every respect, a thing of beauty. Darwin's book has long since established itself as one of the most remarkable books of travel ever written— we would give it first place in the travel literature of the world— and we hailed, with extreme pleasure, the issue of a popular edition. No book of travel that we know has in it so much of that earnest, eager, and constant love of truth which is the soul of all worthy scientific and philosophic research. No volume is fuller of interesting facts concerning the world in which we live; and then the exquisite simplicity, and directness of the style in which the book is written, are themselves delightful. This is what makes Darwin's book popular with readers of all classes and ages. Now, the volume has had additional charm added to it by the pencil of Mr R. T. Pritchett, who accompanied Lady Bassey in her famous Sunbeam voyage. Mr Pritchett has done his work in a Darwinian spirit. Most of the sketches were made "on the spot, with Mr Darwin's book by his side," and they light up the pages of the great naturalist in the most admirable way. No book is likely to benefit more by faithful illustrations than a book of travel.— and this benefit has been added to Darwin's Voyage, by the care and talent of Mr. Pritchett. We trust that the result will be, that many will read Darwin's volume who never read it before, and that many more who know it as one of the most highly-treasured books, will be drawn again to accompany the author on his delightful voyage.